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Do or Don't: Low beds (and a Brooklyn update)

Since last summer, we've been trying our best to move from the West Village to Brooklyn, but the market is getting craaazy. There are so few Brooklyn apartments available that people are going nuts for them. (At a recent open house that our friends attended, 375 people had lined up around the block!) As you'd expect, prices have skyrocketed as a result. After much discussion, Alex and I have decided that we might stay in our tiny apartment for another year and see what happens after that.

Nevertheless, I can't stop daydreaming about creating a real, long-term home for our family. Right now, we feel a little bit in limbo, and it will be nice to be in a place where we can feel settled (and hopefully won't have as many mice).

One cool decorating idea that has caught my eye recently is having a low bed. Have you ever slept in one? The last time we rented an apartment on vacation, the bedroom had a low bed, and for some reason it was incredibly cozy and comfortable to be so close to the floor.

Seriously, look at Astoria. I'm sure I'm not the first to recommend it, but you would be doing yourself a HUGE disservice if you didn't just check out a few homes in the area. Half the price of Brooklyn, not nearly as in demand (even though I'm not sure why!), and I've convinced no less than five friends in the past 4 years to move into the neighborhood and they all love it. You will be so happy you did!

i had a low bed once. It was just the mattress and box spring with a really pretty blue and white flowered duvet cover. I had side tables and loved it - somehow it felt so relaxing. I like the king bed above with the child sitting on it. Makes me want to crawl right in!

I like the idea of it,, and some of them look really cozy, but overall I think it looks unfinished and would only work in a unique space. Personally, whenever I sleep in a raised bed - higher than typical - I love it!

The same thing happened to us when we tried to move to Brooklyn - the prices were even higher than Manhattan!! So frustrating. We ended up settling in Jersey City, which has a young vibe and lots of amazing, affordable housing options - and is a quick 7-minute PATH train away from downtown. You should check it out! And as for the low beds, I think they look super sleek.

I've had a low bed since college, when I couldn't afford a bedframe. Now I love it, and find it makes my rooms look much more mellow, romantic, and relaxed. I keep a very pretty (and big) soft white duvet on it, and have low lighting on the nightstands, a tidy dresser, a few armcharis, and very little else. No screens or anything else in our room... it's a place of peace! Highly recommend!

my husband and i had a low bed for years - i love the modern look of low beds so much. we just recently upgraded to a tall bed with a boxspring (first one i've slept on since high school) and it took some getting used to. BUT at 30 weeks pregnant it's definitely more desirable to just swing my legs over the edge and stand right up from my tall bed rather than haul myself up from just a few inches off of the floor!!!

My roommate in college had a low bed, and I stayed in a hostel in Europe this past summer that had a low bed. They're cute and different, but I feel like they're not as luxurious and give a "cheap" look to a room (but maybe that's just me, because low beds will always remind me of college and staying in hostels when I couldn't afford real hotel rooms). Also, if this is a long-term investment, as you grow older it will be much harder to get in and out of a low bed. Just my two cents :)

I love the look of the lower bed, but I can see what the other commenters mean too... I think i've seen low beds with underbed storage though, so that might be a nice meeting point. I do think it might get old though.

I read this awhile back and it made me think of your search. After your comment about Brooklyn, now I feel like I have to share it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/high-brooklyn-rent-residents-move-to-manhattan_n_2497584.html

Being a european girl low beds were the typical way of bed-height growing up for me. What i loved about them was the way it works for families - the huge low bed of my parents was a great place for me and my two younger siblings. It combines the comfyness of a Sofa with the space you have sitting on the floor together and the great thing - nobody can get hurt falling out of bed and as a toddler you can easily hop in and out by yourself without much climbing. At the moment as a single girl I enjoy the space under my high bed (for my the typical american style;) but as soon as I have more space I will go back to low.

So many good shots! I often think of doing this in our loft...since we can't even stand up in it, having a lower bed seems like a good (and obvious!) idea. The only trouble comes with what on earth we'd do with everything that we store beneath it! Good luck on your housing hunt...we thought we'd be outta this tiny place in 6 months and now we're going on two years!

Growing up with 4 brothers and 4 sisters our sleeping arrangements were quite hilarious. My younger sister and I shared a bedroom, but there wasn't room for two beds. So my mom being the clever woman she is set up a twin bed and stuffed a twin mattress underneath it. At night we would pull the mattress out and then we had two beds (a high and a low bed). We would take turns to see who could sleep on the low bed, such a good time! As much as my sister and I are different sharing a room was a blast!

We had a low bed in our old home - and I really loved it. It made our tiny bedroom feel a lot more spacious. BUT i can't tell you how many times I bonked my shins on the corner of the frame walking around it - seriously OUCH!

I LOVE low beds! I know it might sound strange, but I do feel the difference between sleeping on a high or low bed. I remember that for a period, while having painters in my bedroom, I insisted to sleep on a mattress just on the floor and totally loved it :)

Ive been meaning to raise our bed just by a foot, still relatively low. However, now that I have 2 kids, 5 and under,( one just learning to walk), I'm so glad our bed is still on the floor. It's a thousand times safer. However, as Anji mentioned, when pregnant it is rather tough. I'd say keep yours up until you deliver. Then drop it down when the baby is about 2-3 months. Just a thought. Anyway, I wrote about this very subject regarding Gemma(11 months) and how nice it is to have the bed low:http://kriselkeeper.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-low-can-we-go.html

I've had the Ikea Malm platform bedframe for several years now. Before purchasing it, I had an elevated bed so I switched to the other extreme. It was definitely a change, but I love it and I find it very comfortable. While I do love the simplicity of the low bed, admittedly I miss the storage space beneath the bed. I also rent an apartment so I'm constantly trying to maximize my space and storage options.

Food for thought: If anyone sleeping in the bed ever has an injury and needs to use crutches, having a low bed would make doing so safely very difficult. (I had crutches following ankle surgery a few years ago, and our fairly-high bed made getting in and out without assistance possible). If the mattress is so low that it is actually on the floor, if you ever have issues with bed bugs (which we all hope will never happen, but unfortunately does, particularly in apartment environments), controlling them could be more difficult.

Aside from those issues, I think aesthetically low beds can be great for a space, and can be especially wonderful if you have small children in bed for you (since accidentally rolling out of bed is not as much of a concern), so depending on your needs it could be a great idea.

In our first house we had a 'low' bed out of necessity as our bed frame wouldn't go up the stairs!! It was a loft room though and I loved it. Now we're in a normal bedroom I think a low bed would look weird in there.

I just got married 3 months ago and we have a VERY high bed. My husband now has a step-stool to get into it because it's so high! Thank God I have long legs! In any case, I have reservations in sleeping in a bed so low to the ground. Maybe if it was on a bedframe that was a foot or so above the surface of the ground, I would be willing to try it. :-)

I recently read a book called "Gimme Shelter" (on the reco of another blogger) about a Brooklyn family's attempt to buy a place amid the crazy NYC real estate scene. It was an enjoyable read (if a tad discouraging for those yet to buy!) so I wanted to pass it on.

The first time I saw a low bed was when I babysat for a French family in my town, so it's always struck me as very European.

We bought a low platform bed right after we got married. I went through 2 pregnancies in it. It wasn't that bad. What I didn't like about it was after the baby is born. We kept the baby in the same room with us, in a bassinet beside the bed, and I would have to get up to look inside of the bassinet to make sure everything was good. I just had a third baby and we switched out a few months before we delivered. It different is easier to get in and out of and I like just being able to look into the bassinet laying on my bed. We might go back after our last child is born

We bought a low platform bed right after we got married. I went through 2 pregnancies in it. It wasn't that bad. What I didn't like about it was after the baby is born. We kept the baby in the same room with us, in a bassinet beside the bed, and I would have to get up to look inside of the bassinet to make sure everything was good. I just had a third baby and we switched out a few months before we delivered. It different is easier to get in and out of and I like just being able to look into the bassinet laying on my bed. We might go back after our last child is born

We had a low bed custom-made, so it has some space underneath so it's easy to clean and can fit an underbed storage box if necessary. Low beds are great -- just make sure they're not too low. Oh, if you have knee problems they can be harder on them.

we haven't been able to commit to a bed yet, so we have a mattress on a frame right now. it works out fine, but we are on the hunt for a low bedframe. we thought about the ikea malm, but aren't crazy about the edge of it. i love the look of #9.

i guess if you are a low bed person then you aren't a headboard person? i am not a headboard person.

I've always had a low bed since childhood. It has to be low enough for a person (i.e. a killer clown) not to be able to fit under the bed and kill me in my sleep. My husband thought it was weird when we moved in together, but he really likes the bed low to the ground now. :)

I know it's not NYC but how about Jersey City? I lived there for 5 years before moving into Manhattan (and have since moved out) and I thought I'd love manhattan but I missed JC! It's exactly like brooklyn...but smaller and WAY cheaper. The Grove St or Paulus Hook areas are TDF. So family oriented and have great little restaurants and bars and best part is everything is within walking distance. Just gotta get over the fact that it's not in NYC....but honestly you feel like you are. The lower manhattan skyline looks like you can honestly reach out and touch it!

I have to say... we are about to move from Brooklyn to Jackson Heights, Queens and we are so happy. There is no way we can afford to stay in Brooklyn. Jackson Heights is, if what I've heard is true, the most diverse neighborhood in New York (could be wrong!), has tons of great food, and big, historic apartments!

Also- I've been obsessing about a low bed too! It also seems like a great move with little babies around :)

Have you checked out Maplewood, NJ? It is walkable and the commute into the city takes about the same amount of time as Brooklyn. I never thought I would live in NJ, but we have been here for three years and love it.

i feel like our bed is sort of in between in height. you don't need a stool to get into it (have you seen those crazy high beds?) but atticus still needs help getting a boost to cozy with us in the morning.

kinda digging the low bed. also, are you ok about brooklyn? I can imagine that its a mildly disappointing thing that is completely out of control. we rent in cobble hill and feel so lucky but know that when it comes to buy, it ain't happening. its too insane!

Whoever said there was a buyer's market for housing never looked in Brooklyn! My brother and sister-in-law just moved there after looking for YEARS! They said that people would offer above asking price in CASH! Ridiculous!

I've always been really drawn to very high beds. To me, it just feels so luxurious to climb into a huge bed. Plus, I agree with some of the other commenters that if you're not careful, having a low bed can look kind of sloppy. It definitely needs to look intentional to be cool, I think, not like you just stuck a mattress on the floor and called it a day.

I second Sunset Park, too! I've been right in between Park Slope and Sunset Park (on 22nd and 6th) for a year and a half and in that time, it's changed so much for the better. Lots of fun little restaurants, not a miserable distance from the park and more and more kids running around every day.

I like my high bed, even though I almost have to jump on it to get on top. I actually have it on risers so I can store seasonal clothes underneath in bins since I don't have a lot of closet space. It really works for me.

I would sincerely advise against one with ANY amount of extended platform around the base. After 5 years, my shins and those of my husbands have permanent marks and bruises from late night bumps. Worst modern design idea ever. Wished I hadn't fallen for it.

I've been looking to buy, too, and I'm experiencing the same craziness. It's kind of depressing in a way because I feel like I don't even have a chance from the open house forward. I'm doing all I can to barely scrape up a 20% down payment, only the be overbid with someone who has 30%.

It's just so striking compared to the suburbs. My family is trying to sell my grandfather's empty house, and we've barely had any interest in it. The market out there is completely flipped: abundance of inventory and buyers chipping away at anything they can.

Low bed is a winner, I think!You can casually sit on it, and lay down without having to climb it - much more convenient in my mind. I currently just have a boxspring and a matrass, and it workd great. But it you want a pretty low bed, I would check http://www.cb2.com/bedroom-furniture/furniture/1 - they are adorable and so naturally looking!

We recently got a low-lying platform style bed in our room. It looks fantastic -- upholstered all the way around, headboard, etc. but I can't say I'm loving it. It's harder to get out of bed (I'm about 7 months pregnant) and the lack of bed springs is causing a big dip in our new mattress on my husband's side (he's a lot taller than me). Flipping the mattress will help, but I sometimes think about moving it to the guest room where it will get less use.

This. I moved there last year, and it's great. Plenty of things to do (for kids, too!), plenty of great restaurants, and prices are way fairer than anywhere else. Also, a 20 minute train ride into Manhattan, which is better than you can say about most places in BK.

Oh, this is so relatable. My boyfriend & I live in the Village/Chelsea area (and recently had a big ol' mouse problem - oy vey!) and we are looking to move this summer. But boy, are things expensive. To move or not to move, that is the question! Also, our bed is so high that it requires you to take a running start to fling yourself onto it. So I hear you on the appeal of a low bed as well. Trouble is, I need that under-the-bed storage! Oh, NYC... ;)

My husband & I prefer low beds so we bought the Alpine king bed in gunmetal from CB2, which we love. The ledge on the headboard is genius and to add more storage, we added a piece of wood that straddles the frame on the bottom of the headboard which is where we put our books and prop our tablets =) Highly recommend. So affordable too! Another tip: we bought the TIVED wall/clamp spotlight from Ikea that JUST fits around the frame along the bottom and acts as a great bedside light when fully extended up and we attached the switch to a spot behind the side edge of the headboard so we never have to fumble looking for the switch.

We have a low platform bed with storage drawers underneath and love it. It was out of necessity (we had sloped attic walls in our bedroom) but we just moved and are keeping it. Again, I love having the extra storage drawer for jammies, etc. For our five year old, she moved out of crib into a full size bed (mattress on top of box spring on top of floor) and it has been awesome. She has always been able to easily get in/out of bed to sleep and play and it just is more to her scale. So we kept that arrangement in the new house too.

if you are having a problem with mice, try peppermint oil. soak some cotton balls in it and put those wherever you think they might be coming in. once in a while, dilute some of the oil in water and spray it all over. it has worked for us so far, and lots of people swear by it! supposed to keep spiders away, too. :)

We have a platform bed and I'm so use to it now that "real" beds feel sky-high. (Not having to buy/move a boxspring is also nice!) My only complaint is the ledge that runs around ours. It's nice for books/phones/glasses of water etc., but it's also great for banging your shins. If we could get rid of that, it'd be perfect. :)

We've had a low bed for the last five years and have really enjoyed it. Our mattress sits on a platform without a box spring. My one piece of advice if you consider going this route: consider a low profile box spring to place below your mattress. Placing our very nice mattress directly on the slats of the platform has really broken down our mattress and created a huge ridge in the middle of the bed. A box spring would have prevented a lot of this. We also miss the under the bed storage, especially in our tiny apartment.

My boyfriend and I were looking at brooklyn brownstones in Fort Greene area and recently came to the same conclusion. Places that were just under 1 million last year are now up at around 2 million! Doubled in 12 months! It's crazy and it's getting to the point that you may not be able to resell for even equal to what you paid - you're better off waiting it out a little bit. In the mean time we're now looking at lake houses about an hour from the city so we can still make an investment, have an escape from our tiny apartment, and be able to do all the fun house stuff I was looking forward to! I work from home so I kind of intend to live there like all summer and he can commute easily by train!

We have always had a platform bed and we love it, works great with our latex mattress. We also have our daughter in a Montessori floor bed which we love. My ninth month of pregnancy was a little rough with the low bed, but other than that we love it.

I couldn't do it, personally, it reminds me of when I first started dating my husband and he just the matress on the floor. I like to have our bed nice and high (I'd probably have a loft bed, if I could!) Plus, you can store stuff under the bed this way :-)

I have a low bed and really enjoy being centered to the ground like many people have said. However, I struggle with how to decorate behind the bed. Since the headboard is so low the tall wall the bed sits on looks really plain. Although its nice to have a minimalist approach to decorating. Overall I'd recommend it!

We have always had a platform bed and we love it, works great with our latex mattress. We also have our daughter in a Montessori floor bed which we love. My ninth month of pregnancy was a little rough with the low bed, but other than that we love it.

my college age son just bought a platform bed from ikea. i love the look! but i think i'd rather have a raised bed and not be so close to the floor. mice??? eek!if you ever want to house swap we have a pool and no mice :)sorry about the brooklyn rush on rentals. i read in the nytimes last sunday that families are moving out of brooklyn and into the 'burbs?

We had a low platform bed for years. It is very hard to make the bed, and all other furniture sort of towers over you. I felt like I was finally in an adult bed and no longer in college furniture when we got off the ground and up high. I'll never go back. Different strokes for different folks!

ed and i were in the same situation last month when our lease came up. we offered to pay a teeny bit more in rent in exchange for a month to month lease. now we're free to leave when we find a place and our landlord is pleased as well. worth a shot? being in limbo is so unsettling and knowing we have the option to leave when we find something made all the difference.

My bed is on the lower side (there's probably about a foot of storage space under it), and my mattress is a dense foam slab that's only about 6-7 inches thick. My chiropractor recommended having a bed that wasn't so high that I had to climb into it, but wasn't too low that I had to stoop to get in and out of it. This way, I can just swing my legs over and stand up. Perfect! And it still achieves the lower bed look without the potential for looking like you just have a mattress on the floor. I love it!

Uggghhhh that makes me feel so panicky. We have a great apartment off the Graham stop in Williamsburg. It's huge, we pay next to nothing, and it's a block from the train. I don't want to move, ever. BUT we're sort of subletting and in June I'll find out if the couple we took over for want to come back from LA (they'd be crazy to do so, right?!) and if by some horrible chance, they do, we're out.

And, my husband's a real estate broker so we know exactly what an amazing deal we have right now. It's so stressful.

I had a low bed in the past and it definitely is cozy but the novelty wears off after a while and I ended up feeling like I was in a college apartment or something. I like the refined feeling of a nice tall bed. From what I remember from your previous post showing the updates to your bedroom decor, the higher bed looks great!

Ugh, that's awful about Brooklyn. Have you looked in a neighborhood like Prospect Heights or Crown Heights? I imagine it's easier than Brooklyn Heights and the investment could be amazing since it's such an up-and-coming area. But I'm sure you've weight all the options. I'd hate to be in a neighborhood I wasn't crazy about either, even though it might be more practical. :)

I'm interested in what you guys have thought about moving somewhere other than Brooklyn, especially since Alex just wrote that story about the suburbs. I'm kinda surprised you didn't mention it actually.

In the mean-time, living in the West Village is no slouch. :) You should reframe and look at it as another awesome year in Manhattan! A lot of people would kill for that.

Which Brooklyn neighborhoods are you looking in? I live in Ditmas Park and absolutely love it, there are beautiful Victorian houses everywhere. It's farther out (but right off the Q train) and sort of "quiet," but great for families and less expensive than Park Slope/Brooklyn Heights/Boerum Hill. Just thought I would mention! :)

We have the Ikea Malm bed and love it. Especially in a smaller space, it just fits the scale of the room better. And it's easy for our 2-year-old to hop into and out of our bed in the mornings. BTW, I'm almost 8 months pregnant and 6 feet tall, and it isn't an issue for me. :)

i had a low bed for a while before i moved into my current apartment (we sold my bed and kept my boyfriends) - i LOVED it so so so much! it's not for everyone... my boyfriend didn't like it... but if it were up to me i'd have kept it!

We got a low platform bed recently after making the decision to switch from a full size to a king (!), we got this one: http://www.wayfair.com/Hokku-Designs-Etch-Platform-Bed-BVF1043.html and absolutely LOVE it! The dark wood is so pretty and it just accents our room in a completely different (and better) way!

I think low beds look too young, like college apartment style. Maybe its because my husband and I had low beds then because we couldnt afford real bed frames. We finally upgraded to a real adult bed at a normal height once I was pregnant, the low ikea bed was KILLING me. I think high beds feel luxurious and regal, the bigger and softer the better :)

I love the way low beds look! I even considered making my own bed frame. The only thing I am not loving about it is how far you have to drop to land on the bed. I'm so used to having to jump on my bed.

375 people is crazy! this comment might get lost, but i live in park slope and have an awesome landlord that owns 10-15 buildings in the neighborhood. we are in a 2 bdrm brownstone with a deck and backyard, right in the heart of the slope. don't give up hope!

I think a low bed would be interesting to sleep on while on vacation...temporarily. A novelty. But it would get old really fast and may end up feeling like a frat boy room. I use underbed storage and I also use my bed for folding laundry, it's at the perfect height for folding, but a low bed wouldn't work for either of those purposes.

Positive effect of low bed is that you can literally roll out of bed directly into downward dog yoga pose.

We had a low bed for years and thought it was fine, until I had major abdominal surgery! Getting out of bed was a nightmare. That's obviously a very specific and isolated little thing, but we switched to a high bed after that (and love the storage underneath too).

i have a low bed and LOVE it! I seriously cannot sleep in a high bed anymore ( when we go on vacations) it's so unsettling somehow. THere is something relaxing and grounding about being closer to the floor. Plus, i love to put my feet on the floor and still sit on the bed in the morning :)

Not to sound like a hater, but as other commenters have said- look in Queens. Brooklyn can be over rated. I moved from Park Slope to Astoria and it was the best move. It's cheaper, there are great parks, amazing restaurants, and it's very kid friendly. Plus you can get a bigger, newer, and cheaper place.

I couldnt agree more. I love Astoria! I moved there after living in Park Slope. It feels cleaner and safer. My apartment is $500 less a month and much much larger. Plus it's so much more affordable and such a fast commute into the city. It's also a great neighborhood for foodies. Amazing restaurants and lots of grocery stores and a Costco.

I hated the low bed when I had one in a hotel room. kept stubbing my toe on it and hitting my shins because it isn't in your normal sight line. It is also harder to get up from a low bed.. trend not for me!

We're sticking in our tiny city apartment when #2 comes! I think we're a little nuts, but I also think everyone will adjust (for the time being). We also got rid of our bed frame about a year ago, and just have the boxspring and mattress on the floor. Mainly so our toddler can easily climb on and off, and its not too far to fall!

I sleep on a low bed (in Brooklyn, best borough) and I find it hard to get up and tiring on my back as well! Especially with a little baby when you have to get up many times in the night, I think it's a bad call.

I second this. I have lived in Jersey City for 8 years and work in the West Village. It's the perfect commute. A fantastic neighborhood with a great vibes, lots of wonderful restaurants, bars, shops, we're even getting a fantastic indie bookstore this summer. And you get twice as much in an apartment for half the price. It's definitely worth checking out.

We've had a low bed for the last 8 years and won't sleep any other way! (I will confess, ours in nowhere near as chic as the ones above.) Somehow, sleeping closer to the ground has a cozier and safer mojo; it makes the whole room feel quiter and more restful. It also makes cosleeping much safer. We liked our floorbed so much that we set our son up with one when he was about 7 months old. You can see it here: http://dearyoungmother.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-goat-teepee-and-nursery-tour.html

As to getting in and out of bed: I'm sure it will get tougher as we get older, but floor living really increases how much you use your body on a daily basis. Maybe it will stay easier, longer, because we do it so often. A floorbed IS tough on a pregnant body, but what isn't? :)

I really do like low, platform bed and it has been great for the last 5 years, but lately I keep dreaming of a tall possibly even fou-poster bed. So I guess it is just a case of it being time for a change/ the grass is greener on the other side.

I have always had a low bed and can't imagine anything else! My parents also had one until very recently, when they said the higher bed was easier to get in and out of (they're in their late 60s now). Our bed is a boxspring covered with a pretty, crisp white bedskirt and a mattress on top, plus side tables. Simple, and I love getting in! Sorry about the housing craziness. I'm experiencing a very similar, frustrating situation in LA. I grew up in Queens though, and definitely second the comments not to overlook it. Brooklyn is great, but Queens is a great place to raise a family, and I think it will only become increasingly hip and popular over the next 10 years. Plus, the food is amazing!!

I absolutely love the cosiness of a low bed! Mine is a tad off of the ground, but I'm getting a new one soon and I'm thinking of putting this one on the ground (as my old one was at first). I love the simplicity. I have a vintage wooded box nightstand as well - it's the best.

I think that the experience of sleeping on an air mattress for 3 months while we were renovating our home has ruined low beds for me 4ever : ) The only time, I think I could relax is if that bed was in a tropical location, slight breeze blowing and the sound of waves slowly rolling in. OK, I think I am a fan : )

We built a low bed and LOVE it. We were upgrading to a king and fell in live with a beautiful wooden platform bed from Anthropologie. We did not, however love the $2,999 price tag. So we bought/ found reclaimed wood and made one just like it for a little under $100. We deliberately made it low enough that our baby could crawl in and out if it for cuddles. Our bed before this one was SUPER high and I was also so worried about our son falling off of it. We have LOVED having a low bed. Even though our baby doesn't sleep with us, we love having a welcoming, cozy place where we can all hang out. Oh, and since we made it ourselves, we made it just high enough for under bed storage. Very important for city living!

We have a low bed - just a mattress on the floor, no boxspring - and we mostly like it. The best thing is probably that our little guy (turning 2 today!) can get in and out with no problem. When we coslept, it was great because I never worried about him falling out. Now he sleeps in his own room on a twin mattress on the floor - again, to keep us from worrying about falls. The biggest issue that we've had is our cat - the bedding tends to trail on the floor a little bit and if we don't tuck it up, she pees on it! She hates any kind of fabric on the floor! I'm also a little concerned about there being no airflow underneath the mattress. We usually lift the mattress up when changing the sheets and let it air out for a few hours. And, I have to add - I'm 7 months pregnant right now and it's getting a little harder to get in and our of bed. When my first guy was born, I had to sleep in our guest bed while I recovered - getting all the way down to our low mattress was just too painful.

I abhor low beds. The worst part about it is getting in and out of it when you're pregnant. Then, getting in and out of it when you're breastfeeding, particularly in the middle of the night for the 5th time is second to worst. I would not recommend it. Also, I think it makes a bedroom look like a college dorm.

I think that since space is of importance in a small apartment that having a raised bed would be best in order to create storage space beneath the bed. With two children you will be in need of the storage area. Just a thought. :)

Gorgeous photos. Just spent a few weeks trying to find the perfect platform bed and many were sold out (super popular like BK apartments!) But you should check out CB2, Crate & Barrel, AllModern.com or DWR. I ended up getting a used aluminum "Min Bed" off of Craigslist, originally from DWR that took less than an hour to assemble. A little more industrial than your aesthetic but at least you don't have to worry about matching different color woods.

THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE PEOPLE?! For one apartment! I do not blame you for staying put at the moment!!I love the look of low beds but personally, there is something so ocmforting about clambering UP into bed. Makes me feel like a little kid again, almost every night haha! x

I have had a low bed for about 4 years now and LOOOVE it! Even though it's a low bed, it's not THAT low so it doesn't make me feel like I'm sleeping next to the floor.

Plus, what I recommend is getting a bed that's adjustable. Mine is the malm bed from Ikea and has several height notches. The benefits of having a low bed is that it makes a room look more spacious, even if the bed is big. Also, you don't need to get a box spring. Low beds usually only need the mattress.

I had a low bed for years, but decided that they only really "work" in open rooms. It felt too dorm-like in a small room. But maybe someday again in a bigger house! I'm also grateful for the height of our bed now since it's the only thing that keeps our puppy off of it :)

I adore my tiny bedroom with our low (pallet) bed. It is ideal for our two little kiddos to climb in and cuddle up. We have a big cozy comforter and in the morning I love our two girls being able to cuddle in. It has been especially nice with our tiniest girl (ten mo) since she can easily get in and out of our bed on her own, expanded her playing space in a big way since we are tiny home dwellers. I love it.

I agree! We have a fairly low platform bed and I found it difficult to pick up newborn baby and put her back when she was in the bassinet beside our bed. I would have to stand up every time which doesn't seem like a big deal now, but multiple times a night (and trying to stand up and place her in the bassinet after she fell asleep nursing) was a pain!

Joanna, I love that you are honest and open with your readers about the role that limited finances play in major life decisions. Some of my favorite lifestyle blogs are diminished by flashiness and insensitivity with regard to money. This is why you're my absolute favorite blogger! All the best to you, Alex, Toby, and your little growing M/Mlle of Mystery.

We have a low bed. I love it, but we did lose the storage space underneath, which with the move to the new house hasn't been too painful, but something to consider. My husband doesn't care for it, thinks it is too low, but I love it (I'm not very tall, maybe that's why). Also, the slanted ceiling is 8-9 feet, so it makes more vertical space, which is nice.

This. I live in the Midwest, and was bitten by a brown recluse a year ago (NOT in my bed; the spider was in the waistband of a pair of pants). It freaks me out when I wake up and my quilt is touching the floor. It's cut large (thanks Anthropologie), so even with my thick mattress (and therefore, tall bed), I have to tuck the corners in at the foot of the bed to keep the blanket from touching the floor. I like medium-height bed - getting out of a low bed is no fun, and I have to hop up on my tall bed (I'm 5'3) to sit on it, which feels a little ridiculous.

That'a funny. Here in germany everybody has a low bed and it's hard to find a high (and beautiful) one! Mostly higher beds are for seniors and looks like that. Now we have an english iron bed in cream white for many years and I love it still. Before we had a very flat one, and I remember when I was pregnant... really difficult to get out of bed! But your bedroom-pics are really beautiful and stylish! Love it!Uta

love them! i sleep in a futon, a traditional japanese bed, which is only like 8cm tall, ha! i love it. i've had it since i was six, so i freak out a little when i have to sleep on tall beds at hotels or other people's houses.

We have a low bed and we love it!! Our daughter also loves it because it's easy for her to climb on and off of, and it's not that far if she falls. I'm DEATHLY allergic to dust mites, so we don't use under-the-bed for storage, I vacuum under it once per week and we don't have any trouble with dust.

When we first moved into our apartment and I was hugely pregnant, we had a mouse! Luckily we've never had one since, but it made me scream!! xo :)

I have had a low bed in the last three apartments I've lived in, and I absolutely love it! You're right - it's extremely cozy be so low to the floor. As a bonus, on super hot and humid nights like we have here in Cincinnati, it's a whole heck of a lot cooler closer to the floor :)

We used to have a pottery barn iron bed but I recently sold it and we have our mattress on the floor which I LOVE. We sleep tons better and dont have to worry about the kids falling to far when they jump on our bed!

I had a low bed, sort of by mistake. When I moved into my house, my queen box spring wouldn't fit up the stairs, so it landed on the curb, and my mattress landed on the floor. It was 3 months before I actually made it to Ikea to buy a bed frame with slats. I love my frame( http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99849961/ ) but my room sure seemed more spacious and kind of zen with the bed on the floor!

I agree about widening your house hunt. I know you are a city girl, but there is a lot to be said for going just a bit outside of the city when you have a family. I grew up in Maplewood, NJ and it is a fabulous little town. We have a platform bed, which I find to be a great mix of a regular bed and low bed. Its low enough for kids to easily get in and out of (we are a cosleeping family), but yet, its off the floor (so away from dust and drafts), looks "finished", and I can tuck a slim tote under the bed for storage (100 yr old house=no closets!). When our kids transitioned out of our bed, we got them twin mattresses and boxsprings, which we put on the floor without a frame. A tad lower than our platform, safe in case of a fall, but off the floor just a bit. My sister's family has all their mattresses directly on the floors- no box springs or foundation at all. She started b'c of cosleeping and now they are just comfortable that way. But, I find it unfinished looking, and she has no underbed storage, which would be problematic with my old house, and likely with small city apartments as well.

We had the bed on the floor for a few months after getting a king and while it was nice, the night we bought a frame and got it off the floor we noticed we were both sleeping SO much better because the air was finally able to circulate all around, above and below us. I know it seems a little silly and "how could you tell the difference?" and I can't really explain it, but the difference was huge.

I have a high antique bed (though I added slats underneath as the old wire mesh base was sagging) which I love, but what is awesome about it in apartment living is how much stuff I can fit underneath it. Don't underestimate the value of under-bed storage! :)

High bed all the way! I've had both and it feels so much better when you can slip down the side of a high bed in the morning, rather than pulling yourself up off the ground. Feels like you're sleeping in Heaven, rather than Hell. (Yes, I'm dramatic about my sleep.)

While they do look cozy, I don't think I would ever get out of bed if I had a low bed! I also think sometimes they just look off, like you just moved in and are still getting unpacked. One place I could see a low bed though would be a summer home, but I shouldn't get ahead of myself yet.

I have a low bed I bought at Ikea about a year ago, I LOVE it. I love the look and being close to the floor. I've never noticed that I "climb" out of bed in the morning. I also bought this really adorable night table that is low as well.

I have a low bed I bought at Ikea about a year ago, I LOVE it. I love the look and being close to the floor. I've never noticed that I "climb" out of bed in the morning. I also bought this really adorable night table that is low as well.

hey jo, i don't know much about the housing market out there but i was wondering maybe if it was possible to rent somewhere in brooklyn so you guys can get into the neighbourhood you wanna be in? or even moving somewhere a little bigger so you four have more space? lots of love XXX

I currently have a low bed, but only because we don't have a frame for our king size mattress and box spring. I hate it though. Personally, I hate my comforter touching the ground. I feel like it never is "neat" and always looks cluttered. I think perhaps it would be ok in a large room where there is plenty of space to avoid stepping too close to the bedding. However, I really prefer a high bed with a crisp clean bed skirt.

We have a low bed and i wish it were slightly higher! I love the unfussy look of a lower bed, but if it is too low, the sheets and covers are always touching the floor, by morning they have been sweeping the floor all night! I also would prefer a bed that if i swing my legs over the side, i can stand rather than crawl out of bed. The mid low height in some of your inspiration photos would be perfect!

Brooklyn has become insane! I'm moving to a new building in Bed Stuy as a result. Sure, maybe there isn't as much going on, but it's around the corner from a beautiful park, and it's a fraction of the price of my Williamsburg place and twice as big!!! It's actually becoming pretty family friendly, and a lot of the people moving into my building are younger couples with kids!